Five Things to Know About Walt Disney Presents

Walt Disney Presents is a gem. Often overlooked by guests who visit Hollywood Studios to enjoy Galaxy’s Edge, Slinky Dog Dash or Tower of Terror, Walt Disney Presents is a two-part attraction consisting of a gallery and a short film. It affords a rare opportunity to learn more about the man whose vision and creativity brought about the parks and feature films (and more) that have enthralled generations. To learn more about what’s on display, read on; or to skip to the nuts and bolts, here’s your shortcut.

1. First, you walk through a living biography.

Walking through the gallery is like walking through a biography come to life. Historic pictures of Walt’s life hang on the walls; placards, captions, and recordings tell his story from his birth in 1901 to his dream for the future. Along the way, you encounter scores of actual props, sketches, models, and innovations that all sprung from the mind of one of the most creative forces in the 20th century. Photos and stories are organized into exhibits on “The Art of Animation,” “Mickey’s Milestones,” and “Dreams and Innovations.”

You’ll see a collection of early Mickey merchandise, a model cabin Walt built for the feature “So Dear to My Heart,” and a model of Disneyland’s Main Street. You can watch a clip of Walt sketching Mickey on a desk similar to that used by his early animators, like Ub Iwerks.

Speaking of desks, you’ll see a replica of Walt’s childhood school desk with his initials scratched into the surface, placed under a picture of him with the real thing. Many websites will say this is the real desk, but a bit of research – thanks Yesterland – will tell you the fate of the original. Genuine articles on display can be discerned by a careful read of the signage: the real deals will say, “On Loan From Walt Disney Archives Collection,” or “Walt Disney Imagineering Collection.”

Most interesting (to me anyway) are two things. The first is the original Animatronic Mr. Lincoln from the 1964 World’s Fair. The second is the model of the multiplane camera Walt developed for “The Old Mill.” You’ll hear Walt explain why it was developed and how it works. As you make your way toward the end of the gallery, you’ll watch as Walt conquers television with shows like The Mickey Mouse Club, Davy Crockett, and Zorro.

But since this isn’t merely a look back, there are also exhibits that demonstrate how forward-looking Walt was – and how his legacy of looking to the future continues to this day. There are models and plans for Disney World and other Disney theme parks. On our last visit, there was a model of the new Disney Cruise Ship “the Disney Wish.” In all, it’s hard to imagine a better way to learn more about the man behind the parks!

2. And then, you enjoy a movie!

After touring the gallery, you’re ready for a chance to sit in the theatre and watch the 15-minute documentary entitled, “Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream.” Filled with rare recordings of Walt, home movies and historical footage, you’ll follow along as he grows from a young farm lad who worked a paper route, to the man who would risk everything he had to create a ground-breaking animated feature. And later, a theme park unlike any the world had ever seen.

When the attraction first debuted, it was narrated by then-CEO of Disney, Michael Eisner. After he stepped down from that position, the narration duties were assumed by Julie Andrews. A fitting choice because – after all – who better than Mary Poppins to tell such a magical story?

3. The history of his story’s attraction.

Walt Disney Presents originally opened on October 1, 2001, as part of the “100 years of Magic” celebration of Walt’s birth. Originally called, “Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream,” it moved into the space formerly occupied by the Backstage Pass attraction. Many artifacts and exhibits came from the Walt Disney Family Museum, Disneyland, and the Imagineers Collection, all in California. As you can guess, shipping them across the country was no small feat! A FedEx Airbus A300 dubbed “The Spirit of Imagination” brought the items safely to their new home at Hollywood Studios.

Like other attractions in the park, it has continued to evolve over the years since it opened. In 2010, it underwent a refurbishment. Up until then, the attraction was more of a museum, looking only back at Walt’s life and the things he had had a hand in before his death. During the refurbishment a new section, “The Legacy Continues,” was added. This new portion turned the spotlight on ideas that came to fruition after his passing – and looks to the future with revolving displays highlighting the latest efforts of Disney.

In 2015, the furniture from Walt Disney’s office, which had been on display since the opening, was removed. The desk, chair, and cabinet were returned to the Disney Family Museum.

4. Meets, Greets, and Secrets.

⭐ Yes, there are character meet and greets at this attraction! The queue is located inside the building, toward the back. Waiting times are posted outside the queue area, as are the times the characters will be available. The more popular the character, the longer your wait time! The characters change regularly; sometimes they correspond to a new Disney feature, sometimes not. The area’s decorations are simple, consisting mainly of posters on the wall that relate to the character you’ll meet.

⭐ Close to the entrance of the attraction is a full-size picture of Walt Disney standing in a doorway. On the wall next to the door is the shadow of Mickey Mouse. It used to be that if you stood in the right spot, you’d hear Walt himself say, “I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing- that it was all started by a mouse.” I failed to see if this was still true on my most recent visit, so if you can confirm, please leave me a note in the comments below!

⭐ You can become an honorary Disney Historian! When you enter the attraction, ask a Cast Member for the question sheet. There are three questions on your “quiz,” easily answered by walking through the exhibit. Fun fact: there are different questionnaires, so no two people in your group will have the same answers. When you’ve filled out the sheet correctly, hand it to a Cast Member in the back of the attraction, just outside the theatre where the film is shown. If your answers are right, you’ll get a fun “Magical Moments” certificate and be invited to sign a book with the names of all the other “historians.”

5. The Nuts and Bolts.

Walt Disney Presents is located in the Animation Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, right next to the path that leads to Toy Story Land. There’s no real queue, so you can just enter the air-conditioned attraction and enjoy; as an indoor attraction, weather doesn’t affect it. Depending on how long you spend with the artifacts and displays, you can plan on being there about 25-35 minutes give or take.

As a walk-through attraction and then a theatre presentation, there’s no height requirement, (but be aware that little guests may get a little bored). So that everyone can enjoy the attraction, Handheld Captioning, Assistive Listening, and Audio Description are available. Guests may remain in their wheelchair/ECV.

Walt Disney Presents is not open for Early Theme Park Entry or Extended Evening Theme Park Hours. And this attraction does not offer Genie+ or Lightning Lane Multi Pass, but there’s seldom a crowd.

The Bottom Line.

For all those who love Walt Disney, the history of his company, and all of his accomplishments, this attraction is a must-see. The exhibits and artifacts will deepen your appreciation of your visit to the park and help give you a glimpse into the creativity and vision Walt Disney had. Another plus: it’s a great place to cool off, avoid crowds and sit in comfortable theatre seats for a while! We visit every time we’re at Hollywood studios and highly recommend that you take a look at least once.

Have you been through Walt Disney Presents? What was your favorite part? Let us know in the comments.